Discussion

Rehearsal Dinner in or near Brookline?

We are trying to find a nice restaurant to host our rehearsal dinner for our wedding in Brookline for 25 - 30 people. No italian, more like grill or steakhouse type of food...we would like to spend $30 - $40 per person. Private Room would be ideal, but not necessary. We do not know Boston restaurants well at all, so any advice will be useful! thanks!

Brookline pickings are pretty slim with those requirements. Lineage might work for you, though it's pushing your price limit http://www.lineagerestaurant.com/menu... and I don't think it has a private room. You might take over the whole of Ten Tables, a tiny, pretty place with superb French-influenced American food that's also a great value.

Try Longwood Events venue @ Veronique in Longwood Towers on Chapel Street in Brookline. Longwood Events also owns/manages the former Bay Tower Room now known as The State Room. Their website is longwoodevents.com. The social sales manager's number is 617-854-5068.

The Veronique space has never been empty. The Aptekers still run it, only as a catering / party facility. She's terrific. The Longwood Towers development was recently sold for big $$ and is being renovated for condo conversion.

BTW, if you sign up for doing an event at Longwood - restaurant or ballroom - they invite you to these great sampler evenings. They turn out small plates of a wide variety of menu offerings and have a large dessert spread and wine.

Also just noticed that the OP wanted a grill or steakhouse. Capital Grille and also The Metropolitan Club wouldn't be too far (Chestnut Hill is right next to Brookline), but the $30-$40pp price point might be tough.

thanks to all....I am going to look into them. Our reception will actually be at Longwood's Veronique and we did inquire about our rehearsal there, but way out of the price range....I would like to know what MC Slim meant about a mold issue....we didnt notice anything when visiting. Does anyone know anything about the Stockyard Restaurant?

You know, I thought about suggesting the Stockyard, but it's in Brighton and not knowing how "fancy" an atmosphere you wanted, I didn't. It's an old-school sort of place--I always went there (and to Jimmy's in Arlington) with my grandparents. They do have a private room, but I'm not sure how many it holds. I think the food is fine if you stick to the basics--steak, baked potato, maybe baked stuffed shrimp, etc. My mother hates it, though (she usually orders fish).

good to know - I would probably go with fish too. Is it more of a casual place? The problem is I want something relatively nice, however my fiance's parents are paying and think paying a lot of money ($40) for food "is completely ridiculous." If I could tell them that I will pay for it, I would and go where I want to. What about The Fireplace or (I know its not in Brookline) Th Union Oyster House? Someone else also recommended Les Zygomates or something?

I went to a very disappointing private party at the Stockyard a few years back - tiny room, poor service, awful food. The bar food is mediocre but better than what we ate. The Fireplace is in Brookline in Washington Square. The Village Smokehouse has a private room. I'm not crazy about the place or the food but they are very popular with the local pols for private parties.

I've really only been for Sunday dinners, when there are a lot of seniors in their post-chuch clothes, but I believe at other times it's pretty casual.

If you're willing to go into Boston, I recommend Laurel. There is a thread on it a few posts down--it has a nicer atmosphere, a private room, and fits your budget.

If Les Zyg fits your price range, that's a nice option too. You might also consider Sorisso, which is next door, owned by the same people, and a bit less expensive. I can't remember if they have a private room, but it's a fairly large space.

It's been several years since I last was at Veronique, probably around 2000-2001, but I remember them hosting a dinner for a meeting of the foodline.com crew, and the place both looked and smelled old and moldy. I have not been back.

Yeah, sorry I couldn't give you a more recent report, but once I go to a place that reminds me of a not-very-well-run nursing home, I have a tendency to cross it off my list. I'd welcome your more up-to-date perspectives on it, however.

Not to be argumentative, but your comment was almost slanderous. You originally spoke of a "persistent mold or mildew problem." When the original poster notes that their reception is actually at the venue, you then say you were there once a number of years ago and thought it smelled bad, meaning you know nothing about a "persistent" problem. I assume you didn't mean to say that every other person who's recommended Veronique - there is at least one other active thread which includes it - has no sense of smell or was only there 10 years ago. The point, to be clear, is that the report you made was a) extremely misleading, b) very worrying in a completely different way than having a bad waiter one night is, and c) completely outdated. You might try to be more careful.

Actually, at the time of my "mold" comment, the OP hadn't mentioned they were holding an event at Longwood, or I might have been less harsh. Let me say that I have an enduring impression of the place that it is old, fusty, and tired-looking, confirmed since my last actual visit in conversations with several people who have been there since. I will grant you it is unfair of me to impute a "persistent" mold problem, not having been there recently.

Since you have strong positive opinions of the place, and seem to know it well, perhaps you could comment on how the atmosphere has been refreshed recently.

Thanks for clarifying - while I have not eaten there yet, events there have been voted as up there with the best of Boston. As for the look of the room, obviously this is what we are going for - it was built in the 1920's and they have tried to make it look that way. They are currently remodeling for the condos in the towers. I have been in other areas of the building, and yes they are pretty shabby, but those are the areas they are updating also. The event rooms are beautiful and I have been there a few times since and have not noticed any smells or any mold anywhere in the building.

I love The Fireplace and am going there Wednesday with 6 people. I don't know if they have space for 20/25 people. Also, it's on the expensive side. I have had good food and service and didn't feel it was at all cramped but "different strokes for different folks".

As for the Stockyard, years ago I used to go there once a week and it was great but most recent two visits were most disappointing. The food was mediocre at best and prices had gone up, although it would probably still be in the price range you are looking for.

Check with Copia in Charlestown. I don't know if they have a room but the dining room is lovely, the food and service very good and prices not too over the top.